HALF: MSU blowing in Western Kentucky 42-16

Michigan State answered any lingering questions about its attack in the first half tonight, taking a 42-16 lead in 30 minutes.

The start of the game was perfect for Michigan State on the homecoming, which jumped over western Kentucky early on. For the third time this season, Michigan State scored in the first game it touched the ball, this time on a punt return from junior wide receiver Jayden Reed.

Reed, who was the hero of last week’s win over Nebraska with a tying punt return, repeated his magic from last week just 90 seconds into the game. After the Michigan state defense forced a punt to start the game, Reed brought the next punt home 88 yards to open the scoring for the Spartans.

After lining up the punt on MSU’s 12-yard line, Reed fell back a few steps before passing the first wave of defensemen on the punt blanket at Western Kentucky University. After missing the first two guys, Reed cut through the field hard to the Michigan State touchline and passed all West Kentucky defenders for 88 yards, the 4th most long punt return in MSU history.

The strong start continued for Reed and the Spartans, who extended the lead to 14 on the next possession. Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne found Reed on a deep post for 46 yards to get MSU in scoring territory and Kenneth Walker hit him from five yards to make it 14-0 MSU.

Michigan State’s third touchdown in the first quarter was none other than Reed. After Western Kentucky kicked a basket for their first points of the game, Michigan State immediately hit back. Reed beat the outside corner and passed safety to tiptoe into the end zone to make it 21-3 in favor of MSU.

Kenneth Walker also stepped into the action. While most of MSU’s yards have gone through the passing game, Walker has been there to cap off the Spartans’ training. He scored three times from inside the five-yard line, running defenders to the pylon for both. The second touchdown showed Walker’s breathtaking skill as he jumped over a defender and stood to score.

The offense has been buzzing through the night, scoring on all but one route so far. They have 335 attacking yards and five touchdowns. Kenneth walker iii has 85 rushing yards and three scores while Jayden Reed has 260 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Thorne took part in the scoring late after Cal Haladay recovered a fumble in less than two minutes on a draw to put MSU over 40 points in a halftime for the first time since 2014 against Wyoming.

The Hilltoppers were resilient, however, and didn’t give up after the adversity at the start. After falling 21-3 just 10 minutes into the game, Western Kentucky’s overpowered airstrike offensive kicked in and began manufacturing drive after drive towards MSU’s red zone.

Despite a certain mojo, western Kentucky has so far been suffocated by the Michigan state’s defense in the red zone. In four trips inside the 20-yard line, the Hilltoppers scored one touchdown and settled for three baskets.

The difference between touchdowns and field goals has been the biggest difference so far tonight. Michigan State has turned their training into touchdowns while Western Kentucky cannot generate enough offense inside the red zone. The ‘fold, don’t break’ mentality has paid off so far for the Spartans.

Western Kentucky Quarterback Bailey Zappé was effective throughout the half, throwing for 292 yards and a touchdown. He was able to attack Michigan State from the sidelines with quick screen passes and dump-offs. The biggest plays in Western Kentucky’s offense, however, came in midfield, after their play extended MSU’s defense to the sidelines.

So far, the state of Michigan has launched new high school staff. After starting the first four games of the season with a nickel back, Michael Dowell played sparingly and was replaced by Darius Snow. Angelo Grose also switched from safety to nickel in the third downs, with Emmanuel Flowers having secured some safe time alongside Xavier Henderson.